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The Men of Christmas

The Christmas Message of John the Baptist

Pastor Gary Buchman
Emmitsburg Community Bible Church

(12/14) Debbie’s story

Introduction – What living person, other than Jesus, do you admire most in this world? I will start. For me, there are two people. The first is Billy Graham. Far for perfect, but a man blessed by God to have preached before untold millions as well as some of the most prominent people of the 20th century. The second is George W. Bush. Again, not perfect, but I admire his convictions and his humility. Who is it for you?

Here is a follow-up question just for the women of the home. What would your response be if tomorrow evening, at 6:00 your husband comes home and says, "Honey, you know that person you admire the most, I met him or her today and I have invited him or her to visit and have dinner with us this evening. In fact they are coming into the driveway right now?" Prince William and Kate were in America this week, supposed they just dropped in for a visit? What would your immediate reaction be and why?

You want advance notice so you can be ready. You want the house to be clean and everything in its place. You want to have the meal planned and provided for. You want to make sure you have the right dishes and silverware. You want to make sure you have your hair fixed, the right cloths on, and your make-up right, and so on. Am I right?

Knowing that we are what we are, the Lord our God told us that he would let us know when the Promised Messiah would show up. For example, He told us in Micah 5:2 that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. The arrival of Eastern Magi, or the Wise men looking for the New King of the Jews, and the Paranoid Herod’s slaughter of the young boys in and around Bethlehem would have made the evening news. As I will tell you in a few weeks, the Wise Men were probably familiar with the writings of Daniel that told of the Messiah’s ATA. Daniel 9:25, 26, says this, "Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks….And after the sixty-two weeks

Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;" That is 69 sevens or 483 years until Messiah would be cut off; that is, killed. The command was given around 445 B.C. His birth would be a generation before that. If that doesn’t make sense I can’t explain it to you now. The point is, there was a time specified for the presence of the promised Messiah.

The Lord God also promised that He would send a herald, or an advance messenger to announce the arrival of the Messiah. Turn to the last book of the Old Testament and look at Malachi 3:1, "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the Lord of hosts."

That had been prophesied 400 years before Jesus was born, but 400 years before that Isaiah wrote in 40:3-5, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert A highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough places smooth; 5 the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." Often when a king traveled, advance teams would go and make the roads smooth, clean, and tell the people to be ready to welcome the arrival of the King. Our country does that when the President travels at home or abroad.

The last two verses of the Old Testament, Mal. 4:5-6, tell us, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."

How long it had been since God gave the first promise of a Savior, (to whom?), we don’t know, but God clearly said, I will let know when He is coming. After 400 years of silence and several thousand years since the first promise of a Savior, God spoke. First, He spoke to an old but Godly priest, and then to a young and Godly woman named Mary. The time had come. It is Mary’s child, the Lamb of God that we celebrate this time of year. God had kept His promise, our redeemer, our substitute and sacrifice for our sins had come into the world.

But it is the other miraculous birth and child that we will focus on today. Jesus would say that this is the greatest man that ever lived. His life serves as a constant reminder of what our lives should be about. Let’s start with:

I. Gabriel’s Pronouncement (Luke 1:13-17)

A. A Special Son would be born. BTW, if an angel shows up and tells you that are having a baby, two things are sure. One, it will be a boy. All the angel announced babies were boys. Two, there is a special purpose for this child. He will not be ordinary.

B. His name would be John. John means, the Lord is Gracious.

C. He would be great in God’s estimation, as Jesus said, he was The Greatest man ever, not Muhammad Ali.

D. He would be a Nazarite (Num. 6 and Judges 13). Not a Nazarene, but one who was totally dedicated to God. A Nazarite could not eat or drink anything made from grapes, could not touch anything dead, and could not cut his hair. Only two babies would be declared set apart as a Nazarite from birth. Samson, who broke all the rules, and this child named John. As an adult, he probably looked like he came off the set of Duck Dynasty when he started his ministry.

E. His birth will make many rejoice. Some to celebrate with Zach and Beth, and some would believe the prophecy. Maybe Simeon and Anna were among them. They had the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in their hearts.

F. His life would impact the lives of countless people as He preached his message of repentance and reconciliation as Elijah was supposed to do.

G. And He would be the promised messenger, who would be like Elijah and would tell people that Messiah was coming. God was about to show up. And this baby would let people know.

II. Zachariah’s Prophecy (Luke 1:67-79)

Well, the miracle baby arrived less than a year later, and people did indeed, rejoice. Many people knew that this had to be a special child for a special purpose (Luke 1:65-66). Dad would tell them why. BTW, Zach and Beth had met Mary and knew that Messiah would be just a few months behind their son. When his tongue was loosed Zach would break into a prophetic song (vv. 67-80).

A. Vv. 68-75 are about Jesus, and God keeping His promise to Israel and the world.

B. Then in vv. 76-79, Zach gives this Prophetic statement about his baby boy, John. Every time I read this I think, this is exactly what were are supposed to be doing. Notice 4 things

1. (v. 76) He would go before the Lord to prepare his way. Simply put, He was to tell people that the King is coming so they could prepare themselves, and have their lives and homes in order. Our job is tell people that Jesus has come and is coming again. People need to get ready. We need to tell them.

2. (Vv. 77-78) He would announce that salvation, that is, being a part of the King’s kingdom would be on the condition of repentance and remission which is another word for forgiveness. God’s forgiveness is from His grace and mercy of which John’s name was a reminder. If people will truly repent (turn away from their sinfulness and turn toward God) they will be truly forgiven and rescued from the penalty of sin. The real message of Christmas is Easter. (cp. Luke 24:46-48).

3. (v. 79a) To give light to those who sit in darkness. Light is symbolic of holiness and truth. By giving people God’s Word and telling them the truth about their sins and God’s holiness, and what God did to rescue us, people could escape the darkness of Satan and his world of lies, and know the truth of God’s word and the best way to live life and have eternal life. (Cp. Acts 26:18)

4. (v. 79b) To guide our feet into the way of peace. When people know Jesus and live in the truth, one of the end results is peace. Peace with God, the Peace of God, Peace with people, even those we disagree with will be ours or for those who will believe. The peace that the world longs for will not be by human effort, it will only be in human surrender to the Prince of Peace, The Lord of Glory, who would die to make peace and reconciliation for us and God. These 4 make the message of Christmas. And ought to be included in our Christmas cards and letters to our un-saved family and friends, and as a reminder to those who have strayed from God, that our Prodigal God is waiting to lavish grace, and peace if we will come home. This is what the life and message of this baby named John was to be all about. That is what our lives should be about.

III. John’s Peculiarities – Great in the sight of the Lord, John was a peculiar person in this world. Consider that:

A. He lived Peculiar (Luke 1:80). Probably after his parents (who very old when he was born) died, John lived as a hermit. Maybe using his time in the deserts to focus on what his parents told him about Gabriel’s visit and his purpose in life, and to meditate on God’s word.

B. He looked Peculiar. Again, most likely he never knew a pair of scissors or a razor if he was a Nazarite. He looked like Willie Robertson.

C. He dressed Peculiar. (Matt. 3:4a) Camel skins and a leather belt. Can you say, "Itchy?"

D. He ate Peculiar. (Matt. 3:4b) His Honey dips were not Crispy CrPme donuts, but Crispy honey dipped locusts and grasshoppers. I can’t imagine.

E. He ministered Peculiar (Matt. 3:1-6). He baptized. The priests were the ones who performed the ceremonial cleansing rituals, or purifications; not some wild, desert preacher. Baptism or the purification ceremony was a symbolic ritual showing repentance and the desire of the initiated to be clean before God. It identified the baptized as one who was dedicating him or herself as a God follower. The one being baptized would renounce their past and commit to following Jehovah, the one true God. In John 1:25, the religious leaders wanted to know what gave John the right to baptize people.

F. His preaching was Peculiar (Matt. 3, Luke 3). John was not a seeker sensitive preacher. He did not address felt needs. He did not preach to make people feel good or to boost their self-esteem. His message was simple. The King is coming, and you need to turn or burn. That may seem a bit insensitive, but that is how John preached. The King is coming and he will either baptize you with His Holy Spirit, thus, including you in His body which is the Church, or He will baptize you with Hell-Fire. Your choice! Don’t say, "I am a Jew, or I am religious, I go to synagogue and temple, I observe Yom Kippur and Passover, I believe in God; therefore, I am okay." You must repent and demonstrate your repentance by a changed life or you will go to hell. That is how he preached. That is the truth. He even called many of those who came to hear him preach, "A bunch of snakes (Brood of vipers)." John was not afraid to call people out for their sins, which is what landed him in jail with a death sentence.

Whether he ever knew it or not his preaching had a global impact. Some who heard John preach never met the Messiah or heard John point to Him as, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." (John 1:29) Apollos was one of them and a whole Baptist synagogue was established in Ephesus (Acts 18:24-19:3) by people who heard and believed John. And these were ready to hear about Jesus when Paul and Aquila got there.

When I was a chaplain I led an Italian guy to jail. One day I met a pastor friend of mine who asked me if I remembered the man and I said, yes. He said that he returned to Italy and has planted two churches. Wow! You never know the global impact you will have if you will share the truth of Jesus.

The Gospel writer John, whose letters we were studying and will return to, was one of John’s first disciples, who then left to become one of Jesus’ first disciples. John 1 reminds us that the Baptist’s purpose was to point people to the true light who is Jesus. It is John the Apostle who recorded John the Baptizer’s swan song and Christmas message in John 3:22-36. John would be arrested after this and at just 31or 32 years of age, would be killed for his preaching of Holiness.

IV. The Christ- Follower’s Problem (John’s Christmas Sermon, John 3:22-36). Notice there were two conflicts that were occurring.

A. There was a dispute about what John and Jesus’s disciples (Cp. 3:22-23 and 4:2) were doing. Maybe it was over what Baptism signified, or the manner in which was to be baptized, we don’t know. Here is a life lesson. There will always be doctrinal disputes, either about what we believe or what we do. They are inevitable. Abraham Lincoln is credited with saying, "You can please some of the people all the time, and all the people some of the time, but you can’t please all the people all the time." Romans 14 is one chapter that Paul dedicated to handling doctrinal conflicts. But that conflict lead to another that I both, don’t understand and at the same time I understand completely.

B. Jesus and His disciples were drawing a bigger crowd than John now (v. 26). We used to have two week revivals and two week VBS’s. The alter area was full every week. Now people are leaving us for the new contemporary ministry down the street. Does that sound familiar? Why are they growing and we are not? Here’s another life lesson. Once you have done all you can do in obeying the Lord, you must rest in knowing God is in control. The results belong to Him. Look at verse 27-28 (cp. 1 Cor. 4). His plans for His plans for His disciples are not all the same (cp. John 21:18-24). The results are part of His plan when, (here is the kicker) you are doing all you can.

V. The Prophet’s Purpose (vv. 28-36)

A. To point people to Jesus. (vv28-30) It’s not about this church. During a recent church conflict, there were those who said, "This is our church." But some said rightly, "No, this is Jesus’s church." If someone is looking for a church, I do not try to sell them this one. I will ask, "What are you looking for?" and then point them to ones that offer what they are looking for." Ministry must never be about who comes to our church. It must be about pointing people to and honoring Jesus. John said, that he was not the Christ. He is to Jesus, as we should be, like a best man in a wedding. We want the groom to be honored. Our joy is serving him to make his day the best ever for him.

John could not save anyone nor could he rule the world. His job was to prepare the King’s way, and then to get out of the way. Say this, "It’s not about me. It’s all about Jesus!" Christmas should be about Jesus. He is the reason for the season. Want Joy this Christmas? Make it about honoring Jesus. Give in Jesus name. Tell someone why there is Christmas.

The problem I have with people like Joel Olsteen is that they make it all about themselves. God wants me to be healthy and wealthy and to pamper me. God wants me to get. But that is not John’s message nor is the scriptures. He (Jesus) must increase, or be exalted, honored, glorified, and extolled. And I must decrease, be humble, and rejoice that Jesus is honored.

B. The Reason that Christmas and Life should be about Jesus.

1. He is the Christ; the anointed one from God, He is God and I am not (v. 28 cp. John 1:1-18).

2. He is from above (v. 31). I am from the earth. I am a sinner saved by grace. Jesus did not originate in Bethlehem, nor in Nazareth in the womb of Mary. He is from God. He is God. Micah said that He is from old, from everlasting. He is eternal. He is the creator who knows all truth because he is the source of all truth. I can only speak from a sinner’s perspective. He can tell you the wonders of His home and about God and how to be part of His family. Yet few will receive His message. (cp. John 1:11-12)

3. Those who receive His message know the truth and find that it is true and receive all that God has promised (v. 33). But they have to hear the truth to believe the truth, so we have to tell the truth or how will people know truth?

4. Jesus is full of the Holy Spirit (v. 34). He doesn’t have just a portion but all Him. What He says and does is under the direction of God’s Spirit. That’s why we should be quick to listen and do what He says. John was also filled with the Holy Spirit. And the Same Holy Spirit wants to live and empower you to honor God completely. We all get the same amount of the Holy Spirit. 100%

5. The Father Loves the Son. The Son is the Father’s glory. If you have a son, you understand this (v. 35a). And God loves and cares for you enough to give His very best for you. Jesus is God’s Christmas gift to you (John 3:16)

6. The Father has given all things into the hands of the Son (v. 35b). This is Jesus’ world, not ours. He will rule over. He will remake it. And, He will judge those who lived in it.

a. His Judgment is just. Here is the bottom line to all of John’s preaching. Verse 36 says, "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life." This is why Jesus was born. This is the point of the Apostle John’s writings, and the Baptist’s preaching. We know from comparing scripture with scripture, that believing involves repentance of sins and a deliberate turn to following Jesus, confessing that we believe that Jesus died on a cross for our sins and rose again and obeying all He says as the Lord over our Lives. The pains of this life are all the hell you will ever know. You have the eternal glory of the celestial city of Heaven to look forward to. That includes the desire expressed on our Christmas cards, of love, joy, peace, and hope. The message of Christmas and all year is that whoever believes that, receives eternal life now as a gift from God.

b. Sadly the opposite is also true, "and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." The sad message is, for those who don’t hear or don’t believe, that they will never have experience any more of heaven than this earth offers, but will experience the wrath of God forever. That is hell-fire. The reason is not because God is mean or vindictive but because God is holy and we are sinners and cannot be in His presence. All people have a slow terminal disease and a date with death. C. S. Lewis reminds us that wars and disease do not increase the death rate. For every 100 people born, 100 people will eventually die. Hebrews 9:27 says, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment," Their sins will as Isaiah says, separate them from God (Isa. 59:2). God’s wrath and penalty for sin will be theirs eternally.

You see Christmas according to John is not about gifts and pageants, it’s about life and death, heaven or hell. Christmas is about Easter. That’s the Christmas message of John the baptizer. It’s all about Jesus and God’s gift of eternal life and forgiveness of sins and escape from God’s wrath and hell.

Read other thoughtful writings by Pastor Gary Buchman

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